Discussion

Your Graduation Gift to Me (more knowledge)!

I am about to finish my last semster at SF State and need to finally eat at all the places I've been dreaming of! I've made a good dent thus far dining at:La Folie - So far my favoritePostrio - Yuck! Jardinière - Very niceACME- Not so much, but the 1997 Dalla Valle I drank with my meal was IN-CRED-IBLE!Fleur de Lys - Once again very nice EXCELLENT serviceBoulevard - Good but nothing specialFirst Crush- Sure the flights were cute, but the food was lackingPerbacco - Fun,nice, not the best Italian but well prepared and worth the moneyDelphina- I'm sorry, it's good... but not that good

Upcoming:MasaGary Dankoand for my Graduation dinner I have decided on Dining at the Ritz

Now with all that said and done, it should be mentioned that my favorite food is italian, particularly authentic pastas and house cured meats (basically as homemade in Nonna's kitchen as it can get). Where in the city MUST I go before I venture back South where good food is almost obsolete?

Although I love pasta, I am NOT by any means restricted to Italian fare. I love Seafood, French, New American...you name it I'll try it!

Aziza - there is nothing like it anywhere else in the country. While you will find exceptional haute Italian and great pasta all over the world, very few chefs are taking Moroccan spices and bringing them to such a different, elegant level as Mourad Lahlou.

My friend had her b-day dinner at the chef's table a few months ago, and believe it or not, I did not love it. We didn't get any special attention, much less special dishes, from the chef and our waiter was indifferent. And frankly, it was kind of an ugly utilitarian environment (I know, it's a kitchen, but still!). I much prefer eating in the dining room. So don't worry so much about saving up for this one!

hmm...guess I was thrown off track by the reference to good food being almost obsolete (it isn't in LA, in my opinion..NOT that I am saying it isn't good in the Southern US either, but well, I just know it isn't a true statement about LA, I am less familiar with the US South :-)). But I would still ditto La Ciccia (there is good Italian in LA, but I haven't heard of any good Sardinian)...

You are correct! And I KNOW we do have good restaurants in LA, they are just so far apart and getting to them is kinda a hassel. The City is so much easier, and like I said my stay here is almost over :(

More people like Aziza than don't. Not only will you not find anything like that in the South (whichever South that is), you won't find anything like that in the country. I'm a fan. I find there's a boring sameness in the 'fine dining' type of joints. Aziza is one of the few doing something different ... and great cocktails.

I like 1550 Hyde quite a bit for California cuisine.

Oh, come on ... go to Tadich ... you can't say you've been in the SF area and never had the cioppino there ... sure it is not in the same category as the others ... it marches to its own beat ... and, IMO, the sourdough there beats the bread any other kitchen puts out of any category.

Why not go for broke for your graduation and go to French Laundry. I'm not a fan ... I'm more a Chez Panisse type I but I didn't regret having the experience.

Or failing that, Manressa. That time of year should be great for showcasing their dishes.